UNITED NATIONS, Jul 14 (APP): During the first half of the year, 289 boys and girls died while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, or double the number compared to the same period in 2022, the UN Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF) reported Friday. <\/p>\n
The figure is equivalent to about 11 children dying each week, \u201cfar beyond what we hear in news headlines,\u201d Vera Knaus, the agency\u2019s Global Lead on Migration and Displacement, told reporters attending the biweekly UN humanitarian briefing in Geneva, according to a UN press release issued at UN Headquarters in New York.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot continue to ignore what is happening \u2013 stand by silently when nearly 300 children \u2013 an entire plane full of children – are dying in the waters between Europe and Africa in just six months,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Conflict and climate change are forcing increasing numbers of children to embark on the dangerous sea journey from North Africa to Europe, it was pointed out. <\/p>\n
UNICEF estimated that 11,600 children have made the crossing during the first six months of the year \u2013 again nearly twice as many as in the same period in 2022.<\/p>\n
However, the agency warned that the true number of child casualties is likely to be higher as many shipwrecks in the Central Mediterranean leave no survivors or go unrecorded.<\/p>\n
Ms. Knaus said it appears the world is \u201cwillfully ignoring what is happening\u201d, given the numbers and the silence surrounding many of these preventable deaths.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren are dying not just in front of our eyes; they are dying while we seem to keep our eyes closed. Hundreds of girls and boys are drowning in the world\u2019s inaction,\u201d she said, noting that the Central Mediterranean is among the deadliest migration routes for children.<\/p>\n
UNICEF further estimated that many children are making the crossing without their parents or guardians, with girls traveling alone especially vulnerable to violence throughout the journey.<\/p>\n
During the first three months of the year, 3,300 unaccompanied or separated children arrived in Europe via the Central Mediterranean Sea route, or more than 70 per cent of the total.<\/p>\n
In response to the escalating crisis, UNICEF is supporting countries in strengthening child protection, social protection and migration and asylum systems. Staff are also working with governments to provide support and inclusive services to all children, regardless of their legal status, or that of their parents.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese deaths are preventable,\u201d Ms. Knaus said. \u201cThey are as much driven by the complex emergencies, conflicts and climate risks that drive children from their homes as by the lack of political and practical action to do what it takes to enable safe access to asylum and to protect the rights and lives of children <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, countries in the region, and the European Union (EU), must do more to protect vulnerable children at sea but also in countries of origin, transit and destination, she said.<\/p>\n
She also stressed the need for safe, legal and accessible pathways for children to seek protection and reunite with their families, through expanding access to family reunification, refugee resettlement or other humanitarian visas. <\/p>\n
Additionally, countries must step up coordination on search and rescue operations at sea and ensure prompt disembarkation to safe locations. <\/p>\n
Ms. Knaus said the duty to rescue a boat in distress is a fundamental rule in international maritime law, and pushbacks at sea or land borders are violations of national, EU and international law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 14 (APP): During the first half of the year, 289 boys and girls died while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, or double the number compared to the same period in 2022, the UN Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF) reported Friday. The figure […]<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":84017,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[270],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n